Her dark hair brushes her desk and hides part
of her face. But I already know she’s beautiful.

“What’s your last name, Willow? Is it Bell?
Are you related to Old Lady Bell?”

She is, and I know it. And she knows it. I
just want to show her that I realize who she is, I suppose.

“That’s none of your damn business,” she says
with a small smile.

They’re definitely related.

“Didn’t your mom teach you it’s impolite to
curse?” I tease.

“Didn’t your mom teach you to read a Bible?” she fires back. “From what I hear, you
need that and more with your black soul.”

I can’t help it. I laugh.

“Is that what Old Lady Bell is saying these
days?” The woman never has liked my family much. Hasn’t had any reason to.

“What’s your name?” Willow asks.

People are staring, but I don’t care.

“Beau Cadwell. Grandson of Parker Cadwell next
door. The evilest family in all the swamp.”

Or so people say.

Willow bites down on her pencil eraser, and I find my eyes drawn to her lips.

“Well, Beau,” she says in a sweet tone. “I
don’t think we’re supposed to be friends.”

“I suppose not.”

Her eyes are darker than anything I’ve ever
seen. They’re the type of dark that takes
over the swamp after the sun falls from the sky.

“You might be trouble for me,” I say, joking.
“And I am not nice,” I add, not joking.

“Everyone is part good, part bad,” she
replies.

I don’t think she realizes just how offset those parts of me are.

“Even still, you should probably not associate
with me,” she says. “My gran would hate it.”

“Would you hate it?” I ask.

Willow twists the metal-clothed eraser between
her teeth for a moment before speaking. She holds my stare like she holds her
breath. “I’m still trying to decide, Beau Cadwell.”

I like my name on her lips. I like her tongue
on her lips. I’d probably like my tongue on her lips, too.

“You are trouble, after all, I hear.” But she
doesn’t say it like she’s scared of trouble.

“Then we definitely shouldn’t be friends.” I
don’t mean a word of it.

“Okay.” Her eyes leave mine. She looks around
the dingy classroom, like she’s just now
taking it in, walls buried behind history posters and a chalkboard covered in
something that is supposed to pass as legible handwriting.

Half the class is staring at her. Some of the
guys look like they want to order her up for dinner. Some of the girls look
like they want to burn her alive for talking to me. Just because things ended
badly between most of the girlsand me
doesn’t mean they need to hold a grudge. What does it take to get girls to move
on around here?

“Do you want to be friends anyway?” I ask.

She lets her eyes find their way back to me.
“Okay.”

And just like that
I have an in with the new girl, Willow Bell.

About
Amber Hart:

Amber Hart resides on the Florida coastline with
family and a plethora of animals she affectionately refers to as her urban
farm. When unable to find a book, she can be found writing, daydreaming, or
with her toes in the sand. She’s the author of several novels for teens and
adults, including Wicked Charm, the Before and After series for teens, and
the Untamed series for adults.

JUST ROMANTIC SUSPENSE is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. Any profits made from Amazon Associates is used to pay for the costs to run this website.

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A recipe that includes a dash of desperation, a smidgen of danger, a dollop of adventure and a healthy portion of passion. Sprinkle a happy ending on top and you have the perfect meal. - JUST ROMANTIC SUSPENSE